Stepladder



Aug.21,1928. 1,681,879

w. E. PUTNAM S TEFLADDER Filed Jan. 2l, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cil Cal

Patented Aug. 21,

PATENT OFFICE.

V/'ILLIS E. PUTNAM, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEPLADDER.

Application filed January 21, 1927. Serial No. 162,824.

This invention relates to a household article capable of being used either as a. seat or as a step-ladder. The seatv inay be in the forni of a stool, chair, set-tee or the lilre.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an article of furniture of the above mentioned lrind in which the stool itself, chair, or the like, can be inade of very rigid construction and the steps are merely an attachment to it so that if, in the use of the steps, they get Aloose in anv way, they wll not affect the rigidity and strength of the stool; to provide a folding step-ladder in which the steps can be lifted up into the inside in a very convenient way and in which the top step or top of the stool is always the IInost riOld part of the device even after long usage; to provide a device of this hind in which the step or steps, while folded up, will not drop out by gravity, no inatter what side up the stool is held; to provide a folding step construction in which a step or steps are formed as one elementand in which they are very easily folded up within the body of ie article of furniture, when not in use; to provide means for assisting in that operation so that not all the weight of the steps has to be li ted by he user lor that purpose; to provide a construction which is ligl t and durable; and to arovide a corner piece for connecting the top with the legs which will add very inuch to the rigidity and durability of the device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stool constructed in accordance `with this invention and showing the steps folded up inside and .the device invcondition for use as a stool;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the steps drawn outside so that the device is in condition for use as a step-ladder;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a part of the device showing connections between the steps and the stool;

@L is a sectional view of the saine on the line if-1 of Fig. 3;

Figf is a side view of one corner showing the metallic leg attaching device; j

Fig. 6 is a bottoni plan view of the metallic leg attachment by itself;

Fig 7 is a side view of the saine; and

Fig: 8 is a vertical sectional view through the center of the leg and fastening device.

This article of furniture is made so as to provide a very practical stool or chair which wdl not have any excessive weight and yet contain a plurality of steps adapted to be folded down to enable the device to be used a step-ladder. As the stool forrns the basis of an article as a piece of furniture I will first describe that by itself.

lt contains four legs 10 as usual, these bcing shown as round and connected across by round wooden rods 11 at the sides and rear and one near the bottoni in front, leaving an open space on the front above this front rod 11. Cross bars 12 are located at the sides near e bottoni. On the top of the legs is secured a top 13 whch constitutes the seat of the stool, chair, or the like. I have shown it rectangular in form but l do not wish to be liiuited to that form except as expressed in the claims.

the purpose of securingl the top to the egs, l pro ride attachments 14 for each ofthe ever-al legs. They can he inade of castings, forgings. die castings, etc. Each one is provided with a recess 15 extending upwardly -roin the bottoni and slightly inclined for receiving the reduced upper end 1G of the leg. At the top of this recess is a horizontal wall 17 which is perforated to provide for allowing the insertion of a screw 18 therethrough into the top 1G of the leg to secure these parts in position. lt will be understood, however, that the end 1G lits tightly in the recess 15 so that the parts are secured very firmly together at this point.

The attachment le? is provided with an integral ear 19 having a perforation therethrough for a screw 20 which secures it froin the underside to the top 13. This attachment 14 is provided also with a rectangular recess 21 extending through or along the edge of the ear 19 and with a -Iierforztion QQ'also rectangular and located in ali gnincntwith a flatsurface forming one edge of the recess 21.

The recesses and liat surfaces are for the purpose of receiving an end 23 of a bar 24 which extends across the stool at each end and in contact with the under side of the top 13. This bar is secured to the top by screws 25. These two bars thus project into the castings 14 at their opposite ends and corne up tight against the ends 16 of the legs and also against the flat surface of the recesses 21. Being secured firmly to the under side of the top 13 and projecting` in this way llO into the castings lll they very much strengthen the whole device and provide a stool which, even without the other features to be described later, is so strong and durable as to be in itself an article suitable to place on the market and T wish it understood that the stool or chair, or the like, as an article of manuit'acture, constitutes a feature of this invention.

For the purpose of converting the stool into a step-ladder additional mechanism is provided. The cross bars l2 at the bottom are each provided with two cross rods 30. On each et these is pivoted a wooden link 3l. These links are parallel with each other at all times and pivoted to a step trame 32 i'forming a parallel motion which will keep not only the links parallel with each other, but the bottom of the step frame 32 horizontal at all times. There are two pairs of links 3l, one at each end of the stool. On one of the rods is a coil spring 33 having an arm 34- extending up and engaging over the correspending` link and having the other end extending outwardly under the bar l2 to normally assist in .swinging this link backwardly into the space in the stool in which it is shown in Fig. l.

The step frame 32 is shown as formed of the two steps and rear vertical members 35 and legs 3G and as having struts 37 and cross rods' 33, which further strengthen it. This Jframe is a unit and is shown in the form illustrated as having two steps although it can be made with one or more.

lt is obvious that with the parts in a folded position as shown in Fig. l the device constitutes a very good and durable stool or chair. Now il it is desired to use it as a stepladder, the most convenient way is to grasp the upper step and bring it to the 'l'ront which brings it to the position shown in Fig. 2. The legs 3G rests firmly on the Hoor the two rear uprights 35 come down i'irmly on one oi? the cross rods l1. In this way the steps are supported in a simple and positive manner and the links 3l and their vconnected parts have nothing to do with supporting the steps. Therefore no strain of importance comes upon them. The uprights 35 rest on the rod l1 at points near its ends where it is firmly supported in the legs.

lt will be noted that the spring 33 offers resistance to the swinging of the steps out from within rthe stool but that the weight of the steps is sui'licient to overcome it along toward the end of the motion outwardly. The spring always tends to raise the steps but is not strong enough to move them from the extended position shown in Fig. 2. ln returning the steps, no help from thel spring is ebserevd until the links 3l go practically up to vertical position; then the spring will itself swing t-he step frame over all the way to the back where it comes against one of the upper cross rods l1 and rests against it.

On account of this spring action, the user can pick up this step-ladder by any corner or hold it atfany angle and the steps will not drop out accidentally. This is an important feature because when using it as a stool it can be carried around, the. saine as any other stool, wit-hout paying any attention. to the fact that the steps are located wit-hin it. ln spite of the fact that the stool contains wit-hin it a. pair of steps, the whole struc-ture is comparatively light and is very strong and durable.

Although l have illustrated and described only a single form o'lL the invention l am aware of the :tact that moditications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, l do not wish to be limited to all the details oi construction herein shown and described, but what l do claim is l. Tn an article of furniture, a step ladder having a top and legs constituting a trame, a step frame having a parallel mot-ion and pivotal connection with the legs near the bottom and adapted to swing int-o the interior ot the frame., said step ladder having a rod across it near the rear connecting two legs and constituting a stop for the step trame, and yielding means for normally tending to swing the step :trame upwardly into the trame against said rod.

2. In an article ot furniture, a step ladder having a top and tour legs, a bar on each side near the bott-om connecting the side legs, a pair of pivot studs supported by said bar, a pair ot parallel links pivoted on said studs, and a. step trame pivotally connected to the ends of said links, whereby the :trame can be swung into the sp-ace between the legs and out of it to cooperate with the top of the step-ladder.

3. In an article of furniture, a. step ladder having' a top and four legs, a bar on each side near the bottom connecting the side legs, a pair ot pivot studs supported by said bar, a pair of links pivoted on said studs, a step frame pivotally connected to the ends of said links at points a distance apart equal to the distance apart ot said studs, whereby the trarne is connected to said bars by a parallel motion and can be swung thereabout into the space between. the legs and out to cooperate with the top of the step-ladder, and a spring coiled on one of said studs and having an arm engaging the corresponding link to prevent the step frame from falling out when the step ladder is in an inclined position.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto aixed my signature.

WILLIS E. PUTNAM.

llO 

